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Amazing DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent!

AMAZING liquid laundry detergent, this stuff works so well and smells amazing! Guys, I’m not gonna lie to you, I’ve tried the homemade laundry detergent before intending to share it… and it was awful! I actually tried homemade laundry detergents twice before this one and both just did not make the cut. I had basically almost given up on DIY laundry detergent completely, when my good friend Keesha text me and said she had a recipe and wanted to make it together! I had my doubts, but she told me her mom and her sister had both been using this kind forever and swore by it and I decided I would give it a go. Holy cow.. I am in love with the stuff! I don’t know if it was because my first two attempts were for dry laundry detergent, or what, but this DIY liquid laundry detergent is AMAZING!

Every time I open up the washer to switch loads I am filled with joy because it smells fresh and clean, leaves no gross residue, and gets out tough dirt and stains! I have been so impressed, I basically couldn’t wait to share it with you. Not to mention, the recipe makes a 5 gallon tub and you only need 1/2 cup detergent for top loader machines and 1/4 for front loader machines per load! Suffice it to say, this recipe is gonna shrink your laundry expenses considerably! Let’s get started shall we?

AMAZING liquid laundry detergent, this stuff works so well and smells amazing!

AMAZING liquid laundry detergent, this stuff works so well and smells amazing!
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Amazing DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent!
Ingredients
  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
  • 1 cup washing soda
  • 1/2 cup Borax
  • Yummy smelling essential oils Optional I used Doterra's citrus bliss
  • 5 gallon bucket
Instructions
  1. Heat 4 cups of water until boiling.
  2. Grate your Fels-Naptha soap bar (I just used a cheese grater) and add to boiling water. Stir continuously over medium low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
  3. Fill your 5 gallon bucket half full with HOT tap water, add melted soap, washing soda, and borax and stir well until all powder is dissolved.
  4. Fill the bucket the rest of the way to the top with hot water, stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.
  5. The next day, stir well and fill an old laundry detergent container with detergent.
  6. If desired, add your essential oils at this point!
Recipe Notes
*Shake well before each use, because detergent can separate a bit. *Top load machines use 1/2 cup per load, front load machines use 1/4 cup per load.

AMAZING liquid laundry detergent, this stuff works so well and smells amazing! ^^^Here is what my soap looked like after I grated it! You want to use the smallest grater that you have, so that it melts as quickly and easily as possible!

AMAZING liquid laundry detergent, this stuff works so well and smells amazing! ^^^Here is what our buckets full of soap looked like before they sat overnight and thickened a little!

Sooooo easy and soooo worth it you guys! I can guarantee you’re gonna be glad you tried this one!

xo,

jess-sig

P.S. If you liked this post be sure to check out my homemade laundry spot cleaner and our DIY magic cleaner!

  • Hannah

    I really want to try this! I just have one question. My washing machine is a front loader and the instructions say it requires high efficiency laundry detergent so that’s what I’ve always used. Do you know if anyone has tried it in a machine that needs HE detergent and had success? Thanks!

  • Alyssa

    What is the shelf life?

  • Vanessa Marquiss Barker

    I’ve always wanted to make my own but have never tried. I’m going to try this one. How much would you say it cost you?

    • It cost me probably $20 for the supplies (including bucket) but my friend and I both made 5 gallons each and I still have some supplies left over! I already had the essential oils on hand though! And this will last me way longer than a normal detergent would! Super cost effective.

  • Yvonne Prado

    I know some laundry Detergents wear out your clothes or fade them does this do that?

  • Elaina

    How much essential oil do I add? I’ve always thought oils would stain my clothes?

  • Rust

    I did it! It’s now covered and in the getting-thick phase. Very pleased to eliminate that very expensive laundry detergent from my budget! Thank you !!

  • Christy

    So I made it but mine didn’t thicken. Is there anything I can do? Can I add more borax?

  • Mine has taken more than one day to thicken before.. No worries! You can start using it right away and you will notice it thickening over time! It’s still effective now though!

  • Vivian

    How do we store it? Will keeping it in a hot garage damage it any, I live in Florida where it’s always hot!?

    • I live in a place where it’s always hot too! We just keep our bucket in our laundry room. Maybe try the floor of a closet or something? The garage may be fine but I’ve never tried it!

  • DENISE IN LAS VEGAS

    I MADE IT and it is awesome. I have lots of supply left over so I can make more for at least a yr (just me and my hubby) I did not add oil cuz I like the fresh natural smell and didn’t want to extra ingredients not needed….IF UR HAPPY HAPPY CLAP UR HANDS

    • Haha hooray!!!! You just totally made my morning!! I’m so glad you love it as much as I do! Thanks for the sweet comment :)

  • Kathleen D

    What scents do you use in your detergent?

    • I typically use wild orange from doterra, because I love the smell and I have a bunch on hand, but you could use any essential oil you like the smell of.. Lavender, lemon, etc!

  • Rebecca

    I love this recipe and have been using it for a while now, but mine always thickens too much… I end up adding globs not cups to my running wash. Any ideas?

    • Are you stirring it up really well to be sure it melts originally? If so, it should dissolve easily once the washer starts!

  • Rayline

    Will this detergent be oaky for sensitive skin? My daughter has eczema. And is it septic safe? =)

    • We have eczema in our house too and I haven’t noticed a worsening with this detergent! Ours is pretty bad though so in the winter we have to use heavy creams to keep it in control either way! And yes!

  • StoneHallows

    We have a high efficiency washer, and I don’t think it would even hold half a cup of liquid soap. How does the amount of this compare with the amount used of the store bought stuff? Is it a one to one ratio – would I just use the same amount of this stuff as I would the high efficiency store bought liquid?

    Also, we typically use a color booster. Does this do that as well, would the booster still be needed? Or should they not be mixed?

    • Beth

      It says to only use 1/4 cup for high efficiency washers :)

  • lkp

    where do you buy essential oils and how much do you use

  • I buy them through Doterra because my bf sells them and it’s easy, but if you type them in on Amazon tons will come up, or any local health food store (lots of regular grocery stores too)! I used probably 10-20 drops depending how I’m feeling! It’s just for scent really so however much you like!

  • nanax8

    I have used homemade laundry detergent for about a year & am very pleased! But recently I read that Borax was toxic! My question is…Can you substitute something for Borax & it still be efficient?

    • I’m not sure I’ve never tried anything else before! I think it’s in most detergent!

    • Jayne Achenbach McFarland

      You could use baking soda wash it is sold in Walmart right next to the Borax. Baking soda is non-toxin

  • Nancy DeMarco

    Have used this for a year and a half. In that time the total cost for my laundry has been less than $20 for the soap and the washer is used several (and I emphasize several) times a week! Clothes smell wonderful and the come out clean and no dingy fabric’s over time.

    • WOOOO HOOOOO! Isn’t it the best?! I am so so glad to hear that! Thank you so much for coming back to let us know!

  • Gail Abner

    Please check the EWG (Environmental Working Group) website before using any chemicals. I would not use Fels-Naptha or Borax because of the health risks. EWG gives Borax two Fs for being toxic.

  • Julie Crutchley

    Hi Jessica – I’m interested in making this and I really would love to add Citrus Bliss to it, but I’m worried about storing it in plastic containers – don’t citrus oils “burn” through plastic?

    • I’ve never had a problem with it before, maybe because the amount of oil vs. liquid is so small? But you could also keep the oils separate and just add a drop or two to each load!

  • pj

    I have been using the same recipe, but you dilute it one step further….when you put it in your jug for everyday use, you fill the jug with 1/2 water and 1/2 detergent. That 5 gallon container gets doubled to make 10 gallons total! Have been doing it that way for some time now, and so has my sister….and it gets the clothes clean! Also, I don’t put it in the soap dispenser in my HE front loader (I read on one site that it could clog it up!)…….I have a glass 4 cup measuring cup on top of the washer that I put my 1/4 cup soap and just add some water to dilute a little further, and pour it on my clothes. I also use white vinegar in the softener bin….it helps release the soap in the rinse, and makes clothes soft…and there is NO vinegar odor….clothes just smell clean!! Using commercial softeners puts chemicals in your clothes, sheets, towels, etc….and then your skin is exposed to them 24/7 !!

  • Verna Chaney

    I followed a link to this page and the picture used for that page was this detergent in an empty orange juice container – bad idea – it looked just like orange juice. BAD IDEA. Don’t use empty containers that were used for food that a child might be used to “helping themselves” too.

  • Verna Chaney

    I followed a link to this page and the picture used for that page was this detergent in an empty orange juice container – bad idea – it looked just like orange juice. BAD IDEA. Don’t use empty containers that were used for food that a child might be used to “helping themselves” too.

  • Heather

    When you say it thickens as it sits overnight, does it normally turn into a thick gel that you have to stir and break up before you can put into containers or did I do something wrong? I had to add a bit of hot water to mine to get it diluted to a runny consistency again. Thank you so much for the post though I was excited to find it!